Novak Djokovic keeps Daniil Medvedev off balance to win Adelaide 1 semifinal showdown

Daniil Medvedev went big on a second serve in the fourth game of his semifinal showdown with Novak Djokovic on Saturday evening in Adelaide. It landed long to hand his formidable rival an early break of serve, a lead the top seed took and ran with.

Djokovic's warm welcome back to Australia continued with its week of highs, as he eliminated Medvedev, 6-3, 6-4, by emerging the superior player in key moments to reach his 131st tour-level final at the 250-level event.

His biggest concern on the day came late in the first set, when Djokovic seemingly tweaked his left hamstring. The 21-time major winner tried to stretch it out, before leaving the court for an off-court medical timeout to receive treatment.

“Thankfully it was nothing too serious. If it was, I wouldn’t be able to continue. I just tried some anti-inflammatories and it kind of settled in after a few games,” Djokovic told the crowd afterwards.

“I was just trying to keep the momentum going and [not] allow him to break my serve. I think that was the key. I think the longer the match went, the more my hamstring was warmer and bothering me less.”

Djokovic carried on, and as he alluded to, refused to crack at the line. He out-served the 2021 US Open champion by winning 31 of his 35 first-serve points and saving all three break points he faced. Pulling out the serve-and-volley proved an effective tactic throughout the encounter as well.

Medvedev, who once again dropped serve by way of a double fault at 3-3 in the second set, tried to lift himself by motioning the stands for some noise when a heavy forehand crosscourt return-backhand crosscourt passing shot combo was the catalyst for creating a chance to break right back. Djokovic responded by giving Medvedev a dose of his own medicine, unloading with a deep body serve that completely caught the No. 3 seed off guard.

When the Serbian was informed by the on-court interviewer that he hit 200 km/hr on the radar gun in that moment, Djokovic was surprised.

“Really?” he questioned. “Honestly, I cannot recall that one, but I trust you. If that’s the case, I’ll take it.

“With Daniil, it’s never easy. You always have to change the pace, mix up the serve, the return position, rallies, try to make him uncomfortable. It’s really a cat-and-mouse game every single match.”

Djokovic navigated his way through a 12-point game—the most competitive of the contest. An ace down the T wiped away Medvedev’s final chance to get back on even terms and it was followed up with a sweeping ace out wide. With an opportunity taken completely out of his hands, Medvedev appeared to mock his opponent's opening-set injury when he grabbed his left leg while flashing a smile towards his box.

Two games later, Djokovic officially shut the door at the 90-minute mark with one final unreturned serve in the deuce court and was greeted with an embrace at the net.

“Sometimes tennis is about the small, small margins. Some matches I managed to win against him. This one was completely on his side,” Medvedev told press.

“I had some matches against him where the momentum was shifting. He managed to put the ball on the line like even the last game, Love-15, 30-15, two serves on the line. Tough to return them.”

In Sunday’s final, Djokovic will meet Sebastian Korda. The American led Yoshihito Nishioka, 7-6 (5), 1-0, when the Japanese left-hander was forced to stop due to injury.

Korda and Djokovic have never met previously. The 22-year-old is seeking his first career Top 5 victory and first title since triumphing at Parma in May 2021. Djokovic is a tremendous 91-30 when titles are on the line and 101-10 lifetime in tour matches played Down Under.